Much easier solutions but people will NEVER go for it:
Option #1 - within 3 to 5 years (on average) a retiree has collected all of the money they paid into SS. Tie everyone's SS tax paid to their SS number. When they have drawn out all of the money they paid then the payments stop.
Option #2 - same as #1 but the payer has the option of investing the money in a few very safe options and that return goes to their account. When all of the money paid had been paid out the tap shuts off.
Some information on how the return on SS works:
Social Security doesn’t work like a savings account for individuals, but pooled interest from contributions helps fund the trust that pays beneficiaries.
www.aarp.org
Variance in money paid in vs paid out:
- A single man who earned an average income ($66,100) and reaches average life expectancy will pay $498,000 into Social Security and Medicare and receive $692,000 in benefits. ($194,000 more collected then paid)
- A single woman in that situation will pay $498,000 into the programs and receive $775,000 in benefits (the projection is higher because women live longer). ($277,000 more collected then paid)
- A married couple consisting of an average earner and a low earner ($95,800 in combined income) will pay a combined $723,000 and receive about $1.3 million in benefits. ($577,000 more collected then paid)
Other than the GOV raiding SS to pay for non-SS shit this is a major problem with the way the system is set up.